OFFICE: Denver
EMAIL:
DIRECT: (720) 630-2955

Steve Michalek is one of the founding partners of Childs McCune, LLC. Steve is an experienced trial lawyer who represents medical doctors, pharmacists, dentists and other professionals in malpractice, licensing board, credentialing and business matters. Steve has been trying cases for over 25 years and his success in the courtroom assists his clients in obtaining beneficial results before their cases go to trial.

For over 10 years Steve was on call for one of the firm’s largest clients to provide risk management legal services to  physicians and medical facilities. This background allows Steve to provide valuable insight to his clients on how to put strategies in place to avoid or limit their exposure to litigation. Steve is also one of the most knowledgeable attorneys on the new Candor law in Colorado and assists health care providers in resolving cases through that process before claims are asserted against the health care provider.  If a claim does arise, clients who have worked with Steve are in a much better position to defend the allegations that have been made against them.  Steve has prevailed in trial in numerous complex medical cases against healthcare providers where the alleged damages for millions of dollars.  Steve has also been successful in obtaining numerous judgments against Plaintiffs for the costs incurred to defend these cases.

In addition to risk management and litigation, Steve also works on legislative issues affecting healthcare providers. Steve was on the Colorado Division of Regulatory Agency’s task force to improve the licensing and disciplinary process for health care providers.If you have a question about healthcare liability issues, Steve is the person to call.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

• Denver Bar Association (Board of Governors Representative, 2005-2007; Professionalism Committee 2000-05)
• Colorado Bar Association (Board of Governors, 2005-07; Inter-professional Committee Co-Chair, 2012-3, Nominating Committee, 2012)
• Colorado Bar Foundation (Fellow, 2005-present)
• American Bar Association (Health Law Section 2001-Present; Medicine and Law Committee, 2001-Present)
• Colorado Defense Lawyers Association (President, 2004-2004; Executive Board, 2000-2005; New Lawyers Committee Chairperson, 1998-2000)
• Defense Research Institute, Medicine and Law Committee (2004-Present)
• International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) (Health Law Committee, 2009-Present)
• Catholic Lawyers Guild of Colorado (President, 2006-2007. Board Member, 2002-Present)

TEACHING

• Visiting Professor, Masryk University, Faculty of Law, Fal 2016
• Taught American Health Law to Eastern European Law Students

PUBLICATIONS

• 3d Printing: Product Liability, Professional Liability and Other Tort Aspects of Burgeoning Industry, IADC Defense Counsel Journal, April 2020

PRESENTATIONS

• Lessons Learned from 25 Years in the Courtroom, UCHealth, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2022)
• The Colorado Candor Act, The Dental Trust, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2022)
• Risk Management for Health Care Providers, Denver, Colorado (2019)
• Medical Claims Presentation, Colorado Medical Society, Vail Colorado (2015)
• How to Avoid Malpractice Litigation, Colorado Academy of Pediatric Dentists, Denver, Colorado (2015)
• Orthodontic Risk Management Preparation, AAOIC, St. Louis, MO (2021)
• Cardiology Malpractice Issues, COPIC, Denver, CO (2018)
• Risk Management for Health Care Providers, SCL Health, Denver, CO (2017)
• Social Media and Risk Management for Health Care Providers, Dentists Professional Liability Trust, Vail, Colorado (2014)
• Medical Records in Litigation, CPMG, Denver, CO (2014)
• Legal Boot Camp for Physicians, COPIC, Denver, CO (2014)
• Legal Issues Related to ICAT Scans and Dental Implants, Endodontics of the Rockies Risk Management Program (2014)
• Medical Records Law and Risk Management Issues, Lorman Educational Services, Denver, CO (2013)
• Underwriting and Risk Management Program for Physicians, PIAA, Austin, TX (2012)
• Denver Medical Society, How to Avoid Malpractice Litigation, Denver, CO (2011)
• University of Colorado School of Law, Health Care Law Presentation, Boulder, CO (2011)
• Regulatory Law Update for Health Care Providers, COPIC Risk Management and Patient Safety Forum, Denver, CO (2010)
• Dental Risk Management Program for General Dentists, Denver, CO (2009)
• Legal and Risk Management Issues for Medical Facilities, COPIC Risk Management and Patient Safety Forum, Denver, CO (2009)
• Discovery Strategies Following Recent Colorado Supreme Court Decisions, CDLA, Steamboat Springs, CO (2009)
• Medical Records Law in Colorado, Lorman Educational Services, Denver, CO (2008)
• AAOIC Risk Management Mock Trial, AAO Annual Conference, Denver, CO (2008)
• AAOIC Risk Management Program for new Orthodontists, AAO Annual Conference, Denver, CO (2008)
• Medical Records Law, Lorman Educational Services, Colorado Springs, CO (2007)
• Medical Records in Litigation, Copic Risk Management Program, Denver, CO (2007)
• Restorative Dentistry Risk Management Presentation, The Dentist’s Professional Liability Trust, Denver, CO (2006)
• Medical Records in Litigation, Colorado Healthcare Association of Risk Managers, Denver, CO (2006)
• Discovery in Litigation, Colorado Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Denver, Colorado (2006)
• Management of Medical Records in Colorado, Lorman Educational Services, Denver, Colorado (2006)
• How to use the Alcon and Weil Decision to Your Client’s Advantage, Colorado Defense Lawyer Association, Denver, Colorado (2006)
• Medical Records in Litigation, Copic Risk Management Forum, Denver, CO (2005)
• Debate on Tort Reform and Its Effect on Medical Litigation, University of Denver Law School (2005)
• Colorado Bar Association, CLE, Taking Control of the ADR Process, Denver, Colorado (2004)
• Copic Insurance Company: Risk Management Discussions and Presentations to Physicians (2001-Present)
• Denver Health Medical Center: Presentations to Dental and Oral Surgery residents (2001-Present)
• Dentist’s Professional Liability Trust: Risk Management Seminars to Dentists (2001-Present)
• Colorado Dental Association Mid-Winter Meeting: Risk Management Presentation to CDA dentists (2004)
• Mile High Association of Legal Assistants: Professionalism Presentation (2003)

Community Service

• Blessed Sacrament Church (Principal Search Committee, 2006; Parish Council, 2000-2004; School’s Building Committee, 2000-2001; Lector, 2000-Present)
• Holy Ghost Church (Homeless food line preparer and server, 1998-2000); Father Woody’s Homeless Dinner Volunteer, 1999-2000
• Consultant to the Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Reform, (2008)
• Colorado Division of Registrations (DORA), Task Force on improving the disciplinary process for licensed health care professionals (2008-09)
• Kinds in Need of Dentistry (KIND), Board of Trustees (2010-15), President (2011-2014)
• Southeast Denver Baseball and Softball League, Baseball Coach, (2010-2014)
• Regis Jesuit High School Capital Improvement Committee (2010-Present)
• Candor Institute, Board of Directors, (2022-Present)
• Gold Crown Basketball Coach, (2010-Present)

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion